Separate plastic pen cap and clip



July 8, 1969 E. HECHTLE 3 SEPARATE PLASTIC PEN CAP AND CLIP p 7 Filed July 28, 1967 fig/ 692 5 /2 M y A; 4. M 52 INVENTOR ATTORNEY EMI HECHTLE W m United States Patent 3,453,694 SEPARATE PLASTIC PEN CAP AND CLIP Emil Hechtle, Oradell, N.J., assignor to Radiant Pen Corp., Kenilworth, NJ. Filed July 28, 1967, Ser. No. 656,861 Int. Cl. 343k 25/00 US. Cl. 2411 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a plastic pen clip that has a sliding lock-fit with a pen cap.

Since the widespread use of plastics in the pen art, it has been the object of pen makers to simplify the assembly of a pen clip to the cap by making the clip an integral part of the cap to form a onepiece cap and clip.

In order to obtain sufficient spring in the clip it was formed to extend beyond the lower edge of the cap, so that the clip would be sprung back by the cap barrel, developing the necessary tension. Such a clip is shown in Design Patent No. 190,702. However, all plastic pen clips made integral with the caps are usually made of inexpensive plastics which normally do not require a substantial springiness characteristic of the more expensive plastics. Moreover, the inexpensive plastic tends to lose its springiness over a short period of time.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to make a plastic clip, that is separate from the cap body so that superior plastics can be used for the clip, that will always retain a high degree of springiness.

A further object is to provide a plastic clip, that can be attached to the cap of the pen by a sliding self-locking fit.

These and other objects I accomplish and obtain my new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my separate clip for a pen cap;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the clip;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the assembled clip and p;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the cap;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through plane 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the cap showing the clip groove.

Generally the invention comprises a clip and cap, the clip provided with a base insert plate, and the cap longitudinally recessed from the top edge to permit insertion of the insert plate therein, with the insert plate and cap provided with interlocking means to support the clip in position when the base plate is slidingly inserted into the recess.

More specifically the clip 10 consists of a base insert plate 12 having laterally formed serrated edges 14, upwardly pointed to permit ease in insertion While resisting upward and disengaging motion. From one side of the plate extends a springly clamping finger 15, terminating in a pressure tip 16 having a camming surface 18 for leading the cloth edge of a pocket underneath the pressure tip.

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The cap 20 is slotted as at 22 from its upper edge 24 for a distance equal to the length of the insert plate 12. The width of the slot is equal to the thickness of the clamping finger 14 at neck 13 to permit the wider insert plate 12 to enter two lateral guideways 26 and 28. The bottom surface of the two guideways are serrated at 30 similarly to.the serrated edges 14 of the base insert plate 12, but point downwardly to permit the serrated edges 14 to easily pass thereover, but to lock with each other if any attempt is made to Withdraw the serrated edges 14 therefrom.

While the plastic of the cap may be of the inexpensive type such as styrene or butyrate, the plastic of the clip is preferably made of more springy material such as Celcon, a plastic that can maintain its :springiness despite the pressures and changes in temperature.

Thus when the serrated edges of the clip resiliently lock with the serrated edges in the guideways of the cap, the clip is securely locked in position, firmly supporting the pressure tip 16 against the outer surface of the barrel with the necessary spring tension in the clamping finger 15 for continued use.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the slot 22 is positioned in the wall of the cap so that the base insert plate of the clip 10 will not interfere with the operation of the retracting mechanism evidenced by the push button 32, and the slotted wall 34.

While the use of a separate clip and cap makes possible use of an extra tough and resilient plastic for the clip that is not required for the cap body, it is also possible that a metal clip of similar shape could also be used that possesses the necessary spring retention.

The separate clip and cap may be easily assembled without the use of riveting machines hitherto required for aflixing metal clips to commercially available pens. Thus the pens can be provided with separate clips with a minimum of mechanical equipment. The pen with separate clip is thus useful for countries where mechanical equipment is ditficult to obtain.

By limiting the use of extra strong plastic to the clip member alone, an overall saving in the cost of the plastic for the cap is thus effected. This can be an important factor where the strong plastic may be as much as 400% more in cost over the cheaper plastics.

The use of serrations, along the edge of the base plate to engage the serrations in the bottom of the guideway makes possible a normal cap wall, making the cap less bulky.

By the present use of a separate clip made of plastic, two different colors may be employed providing unusual contrast for a plastic clip and clip combination.

Finally it will be noted that the clip is self-locking in the cap, thus eliminating the need for an extra ring to wedge the clip to the cap.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular form shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tubular pen cap, and a separate clip therefor, said clip characterized by a base plate having a springy clamping finger extending perpendicularly therefrom terminating in a pressure tip provided with a camming surface and joined to the base plate by a neck portion of reduced lateral dimension forming longitudinally extending grooves between said base plate and said clip, said cap having a longitudinal extending slot intersecting a laterally extending slot entirely formed in the Wall of the tubular cap, starting at the upper edge of the cap, said base plate longitudinal edges and cap 3,453,694 3 4 laterally extending slot being provided with frietionally 2,365,473 12/1944 Kahn et a1. 24-11 interlocking toothed means, adapted to engage each other 1,786,943 12/ 1930 Gammell. to permanently support the clip in position where the 2,495,667 1/ 1950 Vizner.

base plate is inserted into the laterally extending slot slidingly and the neck portion is snugly received in the 5 FOREIGN PATENTS longitudinally extending slot. 1,428,677 9 6 France.

183,340 7/1922 Great Britain. References Cited 256,244 2/1949 Switzerland.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 178,763 4/1922 Great Britain.

1,465,957 8/1923 Wahl 2411 10 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

